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Pastoral Appointment and Renewal Leave
Dear Christ UMC,
On behalf of the Staff Parish Relations Committee, I want to share several important pieces of news with you. These announcements were shared with the congregation in Sunday worship on April 24th.
1.Bishop McAlilly and the Cabinet of the Tennessee Western Kentucky Conference prayerfully met this spring to make missional appointments for all the churches in our conference. For the 2022/2023 conference year, Rev. Mark Price, Rev. Anne Hook, and Rev. Paul Bonner will continue serving under appointment at Christ UMC.
2. Rev. Adam Kelchner will begin a new appointment at Camden First UMC on the Tennessee River on July 1st of this summer having served four years as the Senior Pastor at Christ UMC. There will be a reception opportunity on June 26th after worship to express your thanks and gratitude to Pastor Adam for his ministry among us.
3. Prior to the move to the new appointment in July, Pastor Adam will have a period of spiritual and renewal leave as outlined in the United Methodist Church's Book of Discipline (which guides the structure of the church). Staff Parish is pleased to be able to make this time available to Pastor Adam for rest and intentional spiritual formation after the demanding ministry landscape of the past two years. He and Staff Parish have consulted and planned for several months on how to utilize this type of leave that is available to United Methodist pastors. Below are common questions and answers about renewal leave and its importance among clergy.
4. The incoming Senior Pastor of Christ UMC will be Rev. Dr. Chris Haynes and he will lead worship for the first time on July 10th. He currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Lexington UMC, in Lexington, Tennessee.
I know these are significant changes in the life of our church and you may have questions or concerns. If you do, please don't hesitate to contact me or any member of the Staff Parish Relations Committee. We are available as your congregational leaders as we move through this pivotal moment in our ministry together.
Peace,
Stephen Graham
Chair of the Staff Parish Relations Committee
Members of the Staff Parish Relations Committee:
Bryan Richardson
Elizabeth Oliphant
Gary Minor
Rebecca Fiechtl
Marci White
Karen Richardson
Sterling Thomas
Mona Baccash
Lisa Stuckey
Eric Kaberle
Questions & Answers: Pastoral Appointment & Spiritual and Renewal Leave
How does Bishop McAlilly and the Cabinet decide where a pastor is appointed to serve?
In the United Methodist Church, ordained elders (like Pastor Adam) are appointed to serve churches within an annual conference. Elders vow to go where they are sent by the area bishop. Bishop McAlilly and District Superintendents annually consider the needs of local churches, pastors and families, and the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference and deploy pastors as best they can to further the mission of the church. They undertake appointment making with consultation with pastors and the Staff Parish Committee of the local church.
If you would like to learn more about the appointment making process, visit this link where Bishop McAlilly describes the process. (The video was filmed in 2021 but still reflects the overall scope of appointment making).
What is spiritual and renewal leave?
Renewal leave is a planned time to move outside the normal demands of pastoral leadership in order to make space for God to bring renewal and increased health spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
An expectation of United Methodist clergy is that they will model spiritual health and growth through intentional seasons of formation.
Throughout their careers, clergy shall engage in continuing education for ministry, professional development, and spiritual formation and growth in order to lead the church in fulfilling the mission of making disciples for Jesus Christ. This shall include carefully developed personal programs of study augmented periodically by involvement in organized educational and spiritual growth activities. These practices embody the Wesleyan emphasis on lifelong growth in faith, fostered by personal spiritual practices and participation in covenant communities. (UMC Book of Discipline)
Why do pastors take renewal leave?
In general, the role of a pastor is a challenging and stressful vocation. And while there is much joy in ministering to people in a local church, there is much challenge as well. The depth of relationships that a pastor experiences with their people is unmatched in any other vocation. The challenge is that it can be consuming in its satisfaction.
With the special calling of Christian leaders, comes the challenge of hearing God’s voice, individually and corporately, through a cacophony of other voices clamoring for attention. The concepts of rest and renewal are foundational to healthy pastors and congregations. Ministers need sabbatical/renewal rests so they can minister with new freshness and new vitality.
The very idea of sabbatical time is God’s idea and comes from the word shabbat, or sabbath. “Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest.” Exodus 34:21 And in Leviticus 25:4 it says, “But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.” In God’s economy not only does He want people to rest, He even has in mind that the land should rest.
Extended rest is the secret to longevity in ministry and maintaining spiritual and mental health. Unlike any other vocation, it is the Christian leader who is in many ways the message and model for the broader Body. If the leader is tired, exhausted, or weary, it is the congregation that stands to suffer. So, in order to provide this rest, congregations are encouraged, with God’s help, to rally together to take care of things while their leader rests, reflects, and refocuses.
How long is Pastor Adam's renewal leave?
Pastor Adam will be on spiritual and renewal leave from Wednesday, May 11th through Saturday, June 25th. He will return to preach on Sunday, June 26th, the last Sunday of the conference year.
Is it common for pastors to take renewal leave?
In the United Methodist Church’s Book of Discipline (Paragraph 350), renewal leave is recommended for those who’ve served six or more years under full-time appointment. It is also stated that appointed clergy take one week a year, each year, for study and reflection beyond normal vacation time.
Pastor Adam has served 10 years consecutively under full-time appointment not having taken an opportunity for extended spiritual and renewal leave.
How will the period of leave be supported financially by the church?
The compensation and benefits for Pastor Adam remain unchanged during the period of leave.
Who will lead worship during the period of leave?
May 15th: Rev. Mark Price
May 22nd: Aimee Cox
May 29th: Rev. Mark Price
June 5th: Aimee Cox
June 12th: Aimee Cox
June 19th: Rev. Mark Price
June 26th: Rev. Adam Kelchner
What will Pastor Adam be doing during his renewal leave?
Pastor Adam will tend to his own spiritual health through worship at area congregations he would otherwise be unable to experience in-person on Sunday morning. He will not have worship leadership responsibilities when visiting other congregation.s
He will meet multiple times during the leave with his longtime spiritual director, Rev. Todd Spencer. Rev. Spencer is helping prepare a silent retreat guide for Pastor Adam’s use during his retreat at Lakeshore Retreat Center in western Tennessee.
Pastor Adam will also devote time to the activities that bring him delight including fishing, cycling, and hiking in the middle Tennessee area.
Special attention will be given to nurture relationships with Keeli and Serena, and extended family in middle Tennessee and Virginia.
Study will include a small reading list of these titles:
· Undistracted by Bob Goff
· Dream Big by Bob Goff
· No Cure for Being Human by Kate Bowler
· Bearing the Unbearable: Love, Loss, and the Heartbreaking Path of Grief by Joanne Cacciatore
· Rings of Fire by Leonard Sweet
If I need help, who do I contact?
For pastoral care and counseling, an emergency or death, contact Reverend Mark Price at Mark@christumcfranklin.org
For communication, social media, website, and promotional needs, contact Aimee Cox at Aimee@christumcfranklin.org
To schedule an event on the church calendar or book use of a room, contact Anne Hook at Anne@christumcfranklin.org
For contribution and giving concerns or inquires, contact Finance@christumcfranklin.org
For matters relating to staff, contact the Chair of the Staff Parish Relations Committee, Stephen Graham at sgraham105@gmail.com
For matters relating to building repair and condition, or safety, contact the Chair of Trustees, Tim Stillings at Tim@timstillings.com
For matters relating to ministry budgets, contact the Chair of the Finance Committee, Damien Corlew at damien.corlew@gmail.com